'190 dead' in Pentagon attack

About 190 people died in the terrorist attack on the Pentagon, according to the first official estimates. About 70 bodies have been removed.

The figures come as hopes fade of finding further survivors.

The death toll includes the 64 passengers and crew aboard the hijacked airliner that slammed into the US military headquarters in one of a series of attacks on Tuesday.

The twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York were destroyed by two hijacked airliners and another hijacked airliner crash-landed in Pennsylvania.

Officials said the Army suffered the largest losses, with more than 70 dead.

The Navy lost more than 40 people and the Defense Intelligence Agency lost about seven people. The official said some private contract workers were also killed.

The Marine Corps and the Air Force believe they suffered no losses.

FBI crews worked with emergency services, looking for evidence and the flight and voice recorders of the doomed airliner.

Fairfax County Fire Captain Jerry Roussillon, said today: "We're making inroads into the impact area foot by foot now."

Rescue teams worked through the night stabilising the damaged parts of the building.

A large American flag was draped over the side of the shattered building in defiance of the terrorists as President George W Bush visited the Pentagon to get a first-hand look at the damage.

Mr Bush shook hands with rescue workers who have been searching for survivors and said he was overwhelmed by the devastation.

There is a stark hole in the west of the building where the passenger jet flew directly into the massive complex.

Away from the immediate devastation, the walls are black with soot, the windows shattered and empty.

Surveying the scene of devastation Mr Bush vowed once more that the US would not be cowed by terrorism.

"Coming here makes me sad on the one hand, but it also makes me angry. Our country will, however, not be cowed by terrorists," he said.

The president shook his head as he was led through crowds of fire-fighters, soldiers and rescue teams, and said he was overwhelmed by the scene.

During his tour he was flanked by US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld,

"Secretary Rumsfeld told me when I talked to him that he felt the blast shake the Pentagon. Although he was on the other side of the Pentagon, the building rocked," he said. "Now I know why."

Meanwhile First Lady Laura Bush visited victims of the attack in a local hospital.

Despite the damage the Pentagon has reopened. It is the world's largest office building and accommodates more than 20,000 people.

Mr Bush later declared Friday a day of "prayer and remembrance".

"The Pentagon announced there were no more survivors"